SMITH & WESSON 61-2

Overview

Smith & Wesson model 61-2 Escort semiautomatic 22 lr pistol in excellent condition. Comes with 1 factory 6 round mag, original soft case, original box and original manual and paperwork. The Smith & Wesson Model 61-2 Escort is a compact semi-automatic pocket pistol chambered in .22 Long Rifle, produced by Smith & Wesson from roughly 1970-1973. It was marketed as a lightweight "vest pocket" self-defense pistol during the era when imported pocket pistols became restricted in the U.S.Key characteristics of the 61-2 Escort:Caliber: .22 LRCapacity: 5-round detachable magazineAction: Blowback, single-actionConstruction: Aluminum frame with steel slide/barrel componentsSize: Extremely compact, designed for pocket carryFinish options: Blued or nickel plated, often with black or faux-pearl gripsProduction change ("-2"): Added a barrel nut retention system to improve durability and reliability over earlier no-dash and 61-1 models.The pistol's design was heavily inspired by the Belgian Bayard 1908. Unlike most pistols, the barrel is fixed low in the frame while the recoil spring rides above it, giving the gun its distinctive appearance. Owners and collectors often describe it as quirky but mechanically interesting.The Escort developed a reputation for:Being very small and easy to concealHaving inconsistent reliability with some ammunitionBeing somewhat ammo-sensitiveBecoming more dependable in the later 61-3 revisionToday the Model 61-2 is mostly considered a collectible curiosity rather than a practical carry gun. It is especially known from the movie Taxi Driver, where Robert De Niro's character Travis Bickle uses one in the famous sleeve-gun scene.